The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-08-18


whether you choose to believe it or not,
such as you see me have been hungry all
my life."
This statement, made to yoluptuary
who, q moment since, had been remem-
bering with regret the cuisine of the Cafe
Anglais, was terrible one, and the Duke
de Hardimont looked at his companion
with an astonishment not unmixed with
terror. The soldier smiled sorrowfully,
disclosing to view his teeth that resem-
bled those of a wolf-the teeth of a man
who suffered from hunger habitually-and
whose whiteness contrasted strongly with
his clay colored complexion. Then, as il
comprehending that the duke was waiting
for some further disclosure:
'.Stay," he said, ceasing abruptly to adj
dress his companion in the second person,
divining doubtless that he was rich and
happy man. "Stay, let us walk a little UP
and down the road to warm our feet, and
Twill tell you things such as, dare say,
you have never heard before. My name
is Jean Victor-Jean Victor, and nothing
more, for am founding, and my only
happy recollections are those of my early
childhood at the asylum. The bed clothes
on our little beds in the dormitory were
always clean and white; we played in q
garden under the shade of great trees,
there was a good sister there, young and
pale as wax-she was dying of consump-
tion-whose favorite l was, and at whose
side preferred walking up and down to
playing with the other children, for she
would draw me to her, and lay her thin
hot hand on my forehead. But as soon as
I was IL years old, and had taken my first
communion, there WAS nothing then but
miseryl The directors apprenticed me to
a chair member of the Faubourg St.
Jacques. This is not a trade, you under
stand; it is impossible to gain ones living
at it, SO that, for the most part, the master
could entice only the boys of the
Blind Boys asylum to become his
apprentices. Then it was that
first began to suffer from hunger. The
master and mistress-two elderly Limou-
slams, who were both afterward murdered
were terrible misers, and the bread, of
which they gave us little piece at every
meal, was kept under lock and key the
rest of the time. And in the evening at
supper you should have seen the mistress
in her black cap, heaving a sigh at every
glance she stole into the soup tureen when
she gave us our soup. The two other ap-
prentices, the "Blind Boys" were less
unhappy than I, she did not give them
any more than she gave me, but at least
they could not see, as l did, her look Of
reproach when she handed them their
plates And the misfortune was that
had always had good appetite. Is that
any fault Of mine? ask. I passed three
years of this apprenticeship - always
hungry. Three years. One could Learn
the business in month, but the directors
could not know everything, and did not
suspect that the boys were imposed upon.
All, you were surprised just now to see
me take the bread up out Of the mud?
Well, am accustomed to that,
have picked up crusts out of the
dirt, and when they were too dry to eat
left them to soak all night in my wash
basin. There were sometimes wind falls,
too-one must be just--the bits of bread,
nibbled at the end, that the school boys
would take from their lunch baskets and
throw on the pavement, as they came out
of school. / tried to take that direction
as often as l could in doing my errands,
And then, when the apprenticeship was
over, it was trade, as have said that
would not feed a man. All, tried many
other things In turn, had heart for
work, hadi I waited on the masons,
was a shop boy, furniture polisher, and
don't know what besides. Bah! now,
there was no work to be had, again lost
my place. In short never had enough
to eat to satisfy me- All! tonnerre! what
a rage / have sometimes been in, passing
by bakers shop! Happily for me, at
such moments always called to mind the
kind sister of the asylum, who 50 often
advised me to be good, and / would fancy
felt the heat of her little hand on my
forehead. AT last, at Is years of age, /
enlisted. You know as well as ] do that
the soldier has barely sufficient for his
wants. And now-it almost makes one
1augh-the siege and the famine. You see
I spoke the truth when l told you that 1
had been always, always hungryr'
The young duke had good heart, and
on hearing this terrible plant uttered by
man like himself, by soldier whose
uniform made him his equal, he felt pro-
foundly moved. 1t was even fortunate
for his reputation for sangfroid as dandy,
that the evening wind dried, before they
fell, two tears which had gathered in bis
eyes.
"Jean Victor" he said, ceasing, in his
turn, by q delicate instinct, to address the
founding in the second person, ssif you
and should survive this terrible war, we
shall see each other again, and 1 hope to
be of service to you. But for the present,
as the only baker at the advanced posts is
the corporal in ordinary, and as my ration
of bread is twice too large for my appe-
tite, which is not very robust one, it is
agreed, is 1t not, we will share it like good
cOmrades?'
The handgrasp the two young men gave
ann1 fhay. IL
they We're worn out by the guard duty and
by night WATCHES, they Te-entered the par
1Or of the inn, where dozen soldiers were
lying on heap of straw on the floor, and,
throwing themselves down, side by side,
they were soon fast asleep.
Toward midnight Jean Victor awoke,
probably through hunger. The wind had
swept away the clouds from the face of
the heavens, and moonbeam, penetrating
the room through a hole in the roof, H.
Illuminated the charming blonde head of
the yoppg duke, who looked like sleep
ing Endymiop. Still under the influence
of the feeling aroused in his breast by the
kindness Of his comrade, Jean Victor was
regarding him with naive admiration,
when the sergeant of the platoon opened
the door, and called over the names bf the
five men who We're to relieve the sentinels
of the advanced guard, The duke was
one Of these, but he did not awaken at the
sound of his name.
:'Get upi Hardimont," repeated the
sergeant.
hIf you have no objection, sergeant
said jean Victor, rising to his feet, 81
will mount guard In his place. He is SO
sound asleep-and he is my comrade."
Gas you WILL"
And the i've men having left the room
the snoring began anew.
Half an hour afterwards, however,
shots, rapid and close at hand, broke the
silence of the night. In moment every
man was on his feet, the soldiers sailed
forth from the inn with cautious foot
steps, each mans hand on the trigger Of
his gun, as he gazed eagerly down the
road that lay white in the moonlight
rBqt what is the hour, then?n asked
the duke II was to mount guard TO-.
night"
"Jean Victor went in your place, some
one answered him.
At this moment q soldier was seen run
ming up the road,
s'Wellr' they cried In questioning ac-
cents, when he stopped, out of breath.
ssThe Prussians have attacked us. We
are to fall back on the redoubt.n
"And our comradesl''
"They are coming-all but that poor